Chelsea center-back Kurt Zouma has become the latest player to endure racist abuse from fans following his own goal against Sheffield United on Saturday and Frank Lampard has called for immediate action.
The Blues have not really gotten off to a great start under new club boss Frank Lampard as the have accumulated five points out of a possible 12 in four Premier League games so far. The West London side also lost the UEFA Super Cup against Liverpool earlier last month as Lampard is still finding his way to get into the groove to get the best out of Chelsea.
During Saturday’s clash against Sheffield United, Chelsea squandered a two-goal lead and allowed the newly-promoted side to get back into the game and Kurt Zouma was the unfortunate player to lend Sheffield a helping hand. The French central defender hacked in a clearance in the box and it sliced off his boot into the back of the Chelsea net to earn Sheffield United a point with just two minutes to play.
Zouma’s own goal led to another abhorrent parody of racist chants towards the 25-year-old center-back from the own section of Chelsea fans. Zouma becomes the second player after Tammy Abraham to become the subject of racist abuse after the English star missed a penalty in the UEFA Super Cup against Liverpool earlier last month.
And Chelsea boss Frank Lampard has demanded immediate action to take place, “Firstly it is a person that does it, wherever they are hiding from, and secondly we have to look at social media and the platforms and give them some accountability to actually have people register who can be chased down for it. I think it is simple until we get to that, and no matter how horrible that conversation is, we get tired talking about it. Until there is some culpability, anyone can say anything to anyone. It’s not just racism, it could be calling them names, homophobia, sexism, it could be anything. If we allow it, then unfortunately in modern society it is out there and it has to be dealt with. Lampard also confirmed that Chelsea is set to meet with social media platforms to help curb abuse on social media. I think we have plans to do that, everyone knows with how I speak and the way the club act consistently where we want to go with it. Any player, we are clear about that.”
